35 Lessons in 35 Years

I grew up with this fatal vision that I would not live past age 18.

Why?

Because I was unlucky enough to reach that age in the dreaded year 2000, when calamity would strike and the Lord would come back and take his world.

Imagine my surprise then, that 17 years later, I am still here.

A thriving 30-something, ‘Adulting’ and still trying to understand this thing we call life.

“The afternoon knows what the morning never suspected.”
― Robert Frost.

Today as I celebrate my 35^th year of renewal, I realized it was a good time to reflect and recap some of the life lessons I have learned on my trod.

The whole exercise proved revelatory and for some of these lessons, it took me a while to truly find words to describe them, but here goes.

In no particular order of importance: Life Lessons

1. Turning 30 wasn’t that big a deal after all, in fact I felt like my true adulthood began in my 30’s!
2. If you’re lucky, your maturity and wisdom will peak at the right time for you to start putting the two together and change your life.
3. A mother’s love is indispensable.
4. The prayers of the matriarchs of your family count for something.
5. You actually can become friends with your ‘co-workers’, but stay woke.
6. Stay away from people who prefer Juici over Tastee beef patties. You never need that kind of negativity in your life.
7. Try to figure out religion and spirituality for yourself, it will be of immense value.
8. Your gut is always right!
9. The worst end, to the best relationship will not be your undoing. In fact, it could be your opportunity to level up.
10. It is ok to take your time to grow up. If you’re lucky, there will be a lot of years of ‘adulting’ to do all those ‘big people’ stuff.
11. There is absolutely nothing wrong with taking care of you. Self care is the best thing since sliced bread.
12. People love differently, but don’t let that blind you to what love should feel like, for you.
13. Reading is FUNDAMENTAL!
14. Your education becomes more valuable, the older you get. Get that paper, get that training.
15. Nobody really wants a nice guy.
16. None of us are born with good judgement. It’s like a muscle that must be exercised in order to grow and become stronger.
17. Learn to swim.
18. You love who you love and no matter how the world tries to change that fact, it remains self evident and true.
19. Assertiveness is a gift.
20. Being you is often times easier said than done, but it will always be worth it.
21. Being thankful through all circumstances, good and bad, makes a difference to your outlook on life. There is ALWAYS something to be thankful for, as long as you’re willing to look.
22. It is ok to have different ‘tribes’ for different aspects of your life.
23. There’s a difference between being valuable and being valued. See how this applies to your professional and personal relationships.
24. The word ‘No’ is a gift.
25. There’s no shame to your game if you can’t dance, but if you’re so inclined, take a few lessons.
26. Be willing to walk from any situation or person that makes you feel less than.
27. At a certain point in your life, you won’t care about the degrees and certificates as much, you will just want to learn about new things.
28. Accept that disagreements or even arguments are part of the process and shouldn’t define relationships,
29. It takes time to master the art of making lemonade out of lemons but when you do, your whole outlook on life and circumstances immediately change.
30. No matter how far you run, at the end of the day, you have to face the man in the mirror. Ensure that he’s ok, before you fully face the world.
31. You are braver and stronger than you think.
32. Mentors come in many forms.
33. The good you do, for others counts for something. They will remember, even if you forget.
34. You are not your hair (Take this from someone who started losing it before age 25).
35. They may say that you’re shady, but they can never call you dishonest.

Birthdays are a time of great celebration and joy but years ago, my big brother Pete, introduced me to the idea of looking at my birthday, as a New Year celebration.

So along with these lessons I’ve learned and with the launch of this blog, I’d say that my new year is already looking up.

More time to Be inspired, Be informed, Be Glorious!

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Kevin